Former New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard built a reputation in New York as one of baseball’s biggest personalities. Between his overpowering fastball, flowing blond hair, and “Thor” nickname, Syndergaard became one of the faces of the Mets during the team’s 2015 National League pennant run.
Now, years after his Mets prime, Syndergaard is suddenly making headlines again for a completely different reason.
During a recent appearance on Tomi Lahren’s “Tomi Lahren Is Fearless” podcast, the former Mets star finally addressed viral comments made by Alex Cooper that many fans believed were directed at him.
Back in 2023, Cooper discussed a former athlete she once dated and said the unnamed player “can’t get a [expletive] contract.” While she never directly identified Syndergaard, social media quickly connected the comments to the former Mets ace because of the pair’s brief relationship in 2017.
Nearly three years later, Syndergaard was finally asked about it publicly — and he didn’t seem especially bothered.
“I haven’t spoken to her in eight years or so,” Syndergaard said during the interview. “So, I guess I continue to live rent-free in her head. I don’t really know.”
The former All-Star also dismissed the original remark as more entertaining than offensive.
“Cheap shot, but she’s entitled to her own opinion and freedom of speech, so I can’t really control what comes out of her mouth,” Syndergaard added. “It doesn’t really bother me … It’s kind of comical, but whatever.”
Noah Syndergaard Became One of the Mets’ Biggest Stars
For Mets fans, the comments sparked renewed attention around one of the most recognizable players of the franchise’s late-2010s era.
Syndergaard arrived in New York as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey to Toronto. It did not take long for the hard-throwing right-hander to become a star at Citi Field.
By 2015, Syndergaard had become a key piece of the Mets’ National League championship team alongside pitchers like Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz.
His combination of triple-digit velocity and swagger made him one of baseball’s breakout stars during that postseason run. Mets fans embraced the “Thor” nickname almost immediately, and Syndergaard quickly became one of the most marketable young pitchers in the sport.
His best statistical season came in 2016, when he posted a 2.60 ERA with 218 strikeouts across 183.2 innings while earning his first All-Star selection.
Injuries eventually changed the trajectory of his career. Syndergaard underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 and later bounced between several organizations, including the Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians.
Still, his name continues to resonate with baseball fans, especially in New York, where he remains tied to one of the most memorable Mets eras of the last decade.
Syndergaard Made It Clear He Doesn’t Want More Drama
Although Lahren attempted to further discuss Cooper’s recent public feud with former business partner Alix Earle, Syndergaard made it clear he was not interested in escalating things further.
“I don’t want to get into it,” he admitted. “I don’t want to kick the hornets nest any more than I have to.”
Even so, his “rent-free” response immediately spread across social media, reigniting discussion around Cooper’s original comments and bringing Syndergaard back into the spotlight years after their relationship ended.
For Mets fans, it also served as another reminder of just how famous Syndergaard became during his peak years in Queens — not just as a pitcher, but as one of baseball’s biggest personalities.
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